11.19.23 Olivia Montagno, Trumpet

Evening Concert Series Sara M. Snell Music Theater

2023 – 2024 Season Sunday, November 19th at 5 PM

Olivia Montagno, Trumpet Andrew Voelker, piano Trumpet and Organ Concerto D major BWV 972 from Vivaldi RV 230 (1713) Allegro Larghetto Allegro

J.S. Bach (1685-1750)

Solitude (2020)

Amy Dunker (b. 1964)

Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen from “The Magic Flute” (1791)

Etude Op.8 No.12 (1894)

Chiamo il mio ben cosi from “Orfeo ed Euridice” (1762)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Alexander Scriabin (1872-1915)

Christof Gluck (1714-1787)

Intermission The Hollow Men (1762)

My Tears Ricochet (2020)

Vincent Persichetti (1915-1987) Taylor Swift (b.1989)

Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen (1901)

Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)

My Way (1969)

Frank Sinatra (1915-1998)

Someone to Watch Over Me (1926)

Olivia Montagno is from the studio of Dr. Luke Spence

George Gershwin (1898-1937)

Denial- Failure to acknowledge an unacceptable truth or emotion, or to admit it into consciousness. Used as a defense mechanism.

Johann Sebatian Bach's “Trumpet and Organ Concerto D major BWV 972” is loosely based on a harpsichord melody written by Vivaldi. The first movement is incredibly upbeat, and bright. This helps to symbolize denial for someone who has experienced a profound loss, but chooses to act like nothing's wrong to keep it all together. The use of a higher pitched trumpet represents how people tend to overcompensate when trying to put on a facade that everything is ok. It is human nature to raise the pitch of the voice to pretend a situation is better than the reality they are facing. The second movement alludes to the pining or longing for the person lost, with a soulful melodic line at a slower tempo. The denial is wearing off, allowing for the overwhelming sadness to begin creeping in. The melodic line is paired with a stately, processional style accompaniment, representing the way that time will continue to pass while the affected person´s world feels like it has stopped. The third movement is more stirring, and agitated, while still being upbeat. This can represent the slow unraveling that can occur when grieving. Denial can occur for hours, days, or weeks. Denial is an equal opportunist that can sneak up on you at any time.

“Solitude” by Amy Dunker, when taken at face value, does not invoke an immediate thought of what is commonly perceived to be denial. However, there is a direct correlation between feelings of solitude and denial.

Dunker wrote this piece in the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. This pandemic created intense feelings of isolation, giving this work its title. This rich melody echoes and reflects through the recital hall as a cry, or longing for answers, for things to make sense, for things to not be as they are. Denial can be a lonely place to exist in. It can be a lonely mental state to be in, conjuring a memory up, or waiting for a phone call that will not be coming. Denial is waiting for things to be how they were, not how they actually are.

Anger- A strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure, or hostility.

“Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen” from Mozart´s: “The Magic Flute” coveys an intense anger fueled by hatred. The Queen is angry that her daughter is not satisfied with her plan to kill her enemy, Sarastro.

This piece is written in the key of A flat major, which has been shown to invoke an intense feeling of anger or rage when listening to music. This fast paced, light aria is filled with intense melodic lines that moves the piece forward. The high pitches from both the piano and the piccolo trumpet create a shrill line that aids in setting the tone for the work.

“Etude 8 op. 12” is loosely based off of the Scriabin piano etudes. Scriabin was a pioneer in both the classical and instrumental music realms. His etudes for piano consisted of octave jumps, and right hand recitative of the solo lines. The moderate tempo and key of D sharp minor create a slanting, unsettling feeling that ties this into the ¨anger¨ portion of the recital. These etudes helped cement Scriabin’s status as a significant contribution to the Classical and Neo-Classical world.

Bargaining-psychological negotiating with oneself, other people, or even a higher power in order to try and change past or future events. The bargaining process is just one of the five stages of grief.

¨Chiamo il mio ben cosi¨ from Orfeo ed Euridice is one of Gluck´s most famous arias. The lead Orfeo sings to his lover who has died. He laments and begs the Gods for his lover back. He ultimately decides to pursue her in the underworld, becoming determined to find her. This represents a bargaining with oneself, along with bargaining with a higher power. It shows the means people will go to regain their loved one. ¨Oh gods, cruel gods….you stole from me my lovely Eurydice ? Oh cruel memory! ? in the flower of her- life. I want her back from you, tyrannous gods! I too have the courage, in the footsteps of the most intrepid heroes¨ Depression- beginning to realize and feel the true extent of the death or loss. Common signs of depression in this stage include trouble sleeping, poor appetite, fatigue, lack of energy, and crying spells.

“The Hollow Men” by Vincent Persichetti is based off of a poem by T.S. Elliot. Throughout the poem, illusions of moving through Hell and purgatory are alluded to. This piece encapsulates what is commonly referred to as the longest, and most difficult stage of grief to get through: depression. The speaker is wrestling with the depression that stems from being powerless in a situation. The central message of the poem states that a man who is unable to act in a situation is worse than a dead man. When grieving it can feel like being trapped in a sort of Hell that is immovable. The piece begins with a haunting piano chord progression. The trumpet enters on an off beat at a piano dynamic, representing the depression sneaking up on the speaker. The final lines of the poem coupled with the final melodic ideas encapsulate a person in the thick of grief filled depression: This is the way the world ends This is the way the world ends This is the way the world ends Not with a bang but a whimper. ¨My Tears Ricochet¨ is described by Taylor Swift as a song about the loss of a friend. The depression that can set in when you are hurt by a loved one in a way that they would only know how to hurt you because they knew you so well. The lyrics coupled with a simple, melodic line assist in creating vivid imagery for the listener. The first lyrics of the song describe a funeral: ¨We gather here, we line up, weeping in a sunlight room¨. The song goes on to describe a feeling of being ¨dead¨ to the ones we love. How the loss is so great it feels as though we have lost ourselves in the process of grieving. The bridge of this song builds to the lyrics: ¨And I still talk to you, When i´m screaming at the sky, and when you can´t sleep at night, you hear my stolen lullaby¨. This song encapsulates many of the feelings this portion of the grieving process “Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen” directly translates to: ¨I am lost to the world.¨ In the thick of grief filled depression, this is a very familiar feeling. Feeling hopeless, that life is pointless without our loved ones to continue on with us. The piano begins, slowly and softly, setting the tone for the composition. The cornet is used to add to the somber feeling this piece invokes: ¨With which I used to waste much time; It has for so long known nothing of me,It may well be believe that I am dead. Nor am I at all concerned If it should think that I am dead….For truly I am dead to the world. I am dead to the world’s tumult¨ Acceptance: This stage is about accepting the fact that a new reality cannot be changed. It is about seeing how the new reality will impact life and relationships.

¨My Way¨ recorded by Frank Sinatra, is described by NPR as being: ¨The American anthem, representing the represents the quintessentially American outlook that nothing in life matters more than living on your own terms¨ This song represents the loved ones that have been lost, but who lived to be unapologetically themselves every step of their life. The ones who lived their life, and accepted the end of it.

This song uses ascending major 6th chord progression to invoke a feeling of hope in the listener, combatting the occasionally morose undertones of the lyrics. This song creates a certainty that things may be uncertain, mistakes made, and regrets to be had. In spite of those things, we must strive to live life in our own way (¨My Way¨ is dedicated to Kevon Wilson, the best friend, confidant, and partner in crime I had the pleasure of knowing).

“Someone to Watch Over Me” contains a pentatonic, sweeping melodic line. Coupling this with the rich piano chordal and virtuosic lines creates a feeling of hope throughout this piece.

This piece evokes a feeling of acceptance, that although our loved ones are no longer physically here with us, they will be in our memories, hearts, and with us every step of the way. They will always be there to watch over us (¨Someone to Watch Over Me¨ is dedicated to Michael Nato, who was an incredible example of patience, kindness, humor and humility).